Excavating-machine.



T. F. LON NEY.'

EXGAVATING MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV.10. 190a. RENEWED JUNE 29, 1910.

969, 1 72. i I Patented Sept. 6, I910.

T. F. LONNEY.

EXGAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 29, 1910. I

Patented Sept. 6, 1910- swwz. I

Figl 5.

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T. F. LoN NEYf BXGAVATING MACHINE, v v 1 v v QPLIOATIQN FILED 1107.10, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 29, 1310-.-

9 9,172, v I Patented Sept. 6,1910.

11 sunk-51%;}? '3.

' I INVENTOI? T. P. LONNEY.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION F ILED NOV.10, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 29, 1910.

969 172, Patented Sept. 6,1910.

11 SHEETSSHEET '4.

T. F. LONNEY.

EXUAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10,1906. RENEWED JUNE 29, 1910.

969, 1 72. Pa ented Sept. 6, 1910.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

190/5 85%; I F, /N.VE/VT-G.{:

A770 NEYS Mjf Ma T. F. LONNEY. I EXGAVATIN G MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED NOV.10.1906. RENEWED JUNE 29,1910.

7 7 I Patented Sept. 6, 1910 21SHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVENTOH u 5 a g was T. P. LONNEY. EXGAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1906. RENEWED JUNE 29, 1910.

969,172, v Patented S'ept.6,1910

11 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

TiEL 8- WAXQ XY WITNESSES /NVENTOR i; TOHNbYS T. P. LONNEY.

EXGAVATING MAGHINE. APPLICATION TILED NOV.10.1906 RENEWED JUNE 29,1910.

O3. 1 9T M 6m pm 63 S H d mu H 6 t a P I 1 N V5 N x 0/? I i F 6m Q AM if; MT

ATT R/VEYS T. F. LONNEY. EXCAVATING MACHINE. LED NOV. 10. 190B. RENEWED JUNE 29,1910.

Patented Sept. 6. 1910.

ll 8HEETS8HEET D.

INVENTOI? ATTO IVEYS T, 3., LONNBYQ BXCAVATING MACHINE. 7 APPLICATION FILED NQV.10. 1906. RENEWED JUNE 29,1910;

- Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

.11 $HEETS-SHEET 10.

' TlELlZ yr/V5328 a I '0 I I v M AT 22%??? T. F. LONNE-Y.

'EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION TILED NOV.10 ,1906. RENEWED JUNE 29,1910.

96 9, 1 '72, Patented Sept. 6, 1910.

11' SHEETS-JHBET 11.

9- Figuiia- I fl 4 15 20 '9 Q2 c an embodiment especially slopeof the cutting line may v apparatus inmay at'ef' materialcontinuously throughwhich 'wii vated in suc retained in the scoop and'thus be in a con-- oglstrain upon the apparatus.

the same.

i of the bank'- stats object of this invent on is to de- UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE.

rnouas ri LoNNEr, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GEORGE UPI'NGTON,

or BROOKLYN, new YORK. I

ExcAvArING-MAoHmE. 969,172; Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept 6, 191() Application filed November 10, 1906, Serial No. 342,782. Renewed June 29, 1910. Serial No. 569,581.

I Another object is to devise an excavator To all whom it nay concern.

e-Wh progressive] ad- Be it known that'I, THOMAS F. LONNEY, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new. and useful Im rovements in Excavating-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use taneously with a side to side oscillation of the cutting line.

Anotherobject is to provide an excavator which from an operative standpoint will, in

- usage, possess a high de reeof'eificiency and effectiveness, and which, structurally considered, will be of the greatest possible simplicit being composed of but few arts, all a apted for be ngj made at a minimum of cost and individually so'.formed "as to be capable of being compact and highl 'mechanical arrangement for accomplis ing the purposes intended. x

Other objects and advantages willbein part obvious and in part pointed out herelnaft'er.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement will be exemplifiedinthe construction here 'inafter set forthyga'iid the see e of the application followingv claims.

This invention broadly relates to means.- for excavatin material, but sincecerta'in of its characteristic advantages prominently appear when it is resorted to for the purpose of enlarging or constructing new waterways, it will be conducive to clearnes's to describe adapted for such use. v

One object of this invention is to provide a means of the class described which will excc vate material in advance of the excavatingapparatus; so that the latter may continuously advance and cut' its own channel.

Another object is to provide an excavatinga paratus which operates by means of an endless chain of buckets and in which the be arranged various positions without neto' conform to length of the cessitatin'g a variance in the endless chain of buckets.

Another object is to devise an excavating which the cutting may take ace along a runway'rising to the beak of the-boatgfanjdi in which such runway may be given-an desired slant, so that the buckets ordinarily be preferred i out teirQIen hlof travel along such runwayfland at the material may be gathered-from the superficial submergedsurface and therefore 'beo'f a relatively provements over the many 0 plied. variations of the same,

a In such drawings like numerals refer to corresponding parts throughoutall' the' figures of which-:

Figure 1 is'a'side excavator in opera ing; cutaway" t amnion-owl? m ani boilers relatively to the collapsible excavatframeworhangi also showings steady vlsei'an "apparatus of the class described iathenthe materialto beexca- -a way. that'it will be loosely -elevationfshow iilg dition" admitting of a ready discharge from the buckets Without imposing undue shockprovide an exam-"- 'jAnother ob'ect is to 1 v7 I ing idevi'cez'o the d'escribed -naturewith. e" anchoredjto'ithe' botteniofi the water. means whereby it'ma be 1'maintainerl -.infa; way; isi-an-end eleva em 100111-118 mt mws an illlis:

s an. *p e tie igy. p b e v. g -lgigra 1sswung about-jaljcenter post to out channe ot varioua widths.

atop plan In order thatthisinvention may, be more I the. invention. may be that which willnj practice; and is regarded as representing isiibstantial im-f "on; a side o ,the bee a ea remmsaq pre,

the bank, s1mulreadily assembled into a of parts which of which will' be in ica'ted the #9 oftlie'engine and lected in the already full bucket, ever tend to further already same; ig. 4 s a ragmentary e evation' on h 5 an enlarged scale to sho in detail the to ciall y when such material is of a sticky and raceor crane which serves to position-and 'ad esive nature, such as cla n accordcarry the discharge chute, together with the ance with thehcrem described 1m ention, I various features incidental to-' he same; Fig. propose to adjust the slant of le cutting 5 is an enlarged agmentar view in elevaline of the rising excavating chain to con- ,0 tion, showing the apex of the excavatin form with the natural slope of the bank unframework and the m unting of the t clezgoing excavation Asa re 1lt,such bank race or crane carried at the summit thereof wil not tend to Slip ()1 collapse ClUl ing the Fi 6 an enlarged elevation showing de excavation, and 1 s submerged superficial tai s of the inteimedia e oints and the arsur ace will present uniform cond ions to rangement of the corres onding parts of the the excavating buckets. e latter will then runway, Fi is an e ovation of the movbe so rought against the bank that t eir cut able intermediate joint'lookingat the same ting e ges will extend i1 0 the bank for a from. the d i.- e., in the irection of the relativelyshoitdistance only, and the amount ShOWIl 0 1 Fi F ig. 8 is a Side elB- of Inatel 1a accumulated in the buckets will vation of the toe of the apparatus and the be due rather to the length than to the depth forward fixed intermediate oint, lllustratin of cut s a consequence, but slight strains the general arrangem t and. construction will be impos d upon each bucket, and the -of the shown parts; Figis asectional erwear on the same ill -be correspondingl spective,show1ng the construction and arreatly decreased Furthermore, when colran ement of the bucke constituting units lected in this way the contents of the buckets of {icon chain, Fig. 10 is will b nd t e s and s ggy, because to carry the endless ex- 3 fl a g 13 F g 11 IS a e alsefl on ecause of this peculiar condition, the disof the wheel illustratedin Fig. 10; F-i 12 c argin or dumping f the buckets is is a sectional elevation of the apex of the reatl gacilitateithematerial flOWlng from excavator, showing the ma 1' n wh 6 bucket without shoe and, because of itst e swinging doors are open d t di charg mus y condition, being well adapted for be- ;35 ,the contents of the buckets ro nding such mg subsequently conveyed to a distant point (apex,- Fig. 13 is'a sectional elevation taken rough a suitable chute. Again, in di in ,la ong-an axial lane through Fig. 12 to illus --a new canal or in enlarginga preexisting jtrate certain i elatures n t clea y pp ren waterway, tie excavator mus .cut its own from the aforesaid figure; Fig. 14 is a sec way, an tnis involves many practical prob 40 ftional elevation through the toe of the eXcav tj h ld take lace vat-ing apparatus and showing the arr'an B pi'ogiessivelyand as rapidly as possible, and 'nl eut of certain parts notclearly t forth in v a pa mve central anchorap-e sh uld be in 1 .ie preceding figures; ,Flg. 151s a sectlonal surctl oreover, the cutting portions of v1 w of an. arc shaped f runway on the deck the excavator should be so '-.'arranged and 45 o f the boat to which the lower end of the positioned that other parts of the apparatusstay for tht'upper-craine is slidably affixed; will not interfere with.- a perfect action. an'diFig 16showsauiodification of theiiexithereof. bleiturningljoint of the auxiliary track for Turning now to the drawings, 1 denotes n r l ing the-discharge doors of the eixca [the boat-which carries the various parts of acvatin buc ate. 3 if; v the excavator proper As the latter will Pre 'mina ry to a detailed structural icon l ordinarily be mounted upon the bow of the sideration of the foregoing ilustrated en}- boat, I propose to balance the whole b bodiments of thisiuvention, it may be point f' ti thehofler 2, ine 3 and other ed out that the opening up of new W r parts at the opposite end or stern of theboat 5 ways is, irom a practical standpoint, at I raetibe the lat r portion may also be en ed'with certain peculiar difiiculties, a uti med for storage of coal and other ticu arly when" t: excavating is on supplies, and the quarters of the crew ma ough the rust mentality, of an endless be also arranged so as to equalize the balance "SB I'I% of buckets. v i o the whole. Thebow of the boat,- as

60 it The practiceheretofore has been to cause h is p ov d d ith a well 4 through the bu ket to 'be compactly filled at the start w ich the spending portions of the eige or wll-cn in its lowermost position. Upon vator pass, and to this end such bow ay be then raising e initiall filled bucket it 1 urcated so as to provide right and left 1" usually 0 mac Witl'l additional mat and supports 5 and 6 carrying correspond er, "which, While incapable of being coling parts of the excavator. As will be ob '\a \-i a vious, variations 1n this particular may rbe resorted to,\and the length of the well may stationary and in *fixed relation to the float,

and the other hinged to the stationary part and movable with relation to the float so as to vary the depth and slope of out of the apparatus. The stationary frame may be built up of steel or other suitable material, and may provide a forward truss 7 which rises from the beak 8 of the boat and slants upwardly toward its summit 9. A brace truss 10 may extend from the deck 11 of the boat and connect with such summit to stiffen truss 7 and cross pieces 12 may also be provided if desired. The stationary frame is provided in its upper end or apex with an aperture. within which is seated a pillow block 13, see Fig-l3, which may be of cast iron, steel or other suitable material. This pillow block, as shown, is of a somewhat peculiar shape, and comprises two annular flanges 14 and 15,-which are spaced apart and secured to the steel or sheet metal work frame in the manner shown.- The pillow block is also centrally apertured, and

extends inwardly to form an annularbearing 16 which serves as a pivot for the hinge other means for drivingthe endless exca- 17 of the upper movable truss 18. Suitably carried by the pillow block is'a brass 19, which may be of any preferred construction, and within which is revolubly mounted the journaled end-of a shaft 20 which transversely extends through the two sides of the stationary framework and preferably protrudes on one or both sides thereof to make provision for carrying an upper wheel or vating belt.

The truss 18 extends from its upper pivot as aforesaid to the deck of the boat and is arrangedto swing about its upper end as a center. While it may be entirely supported from 'its'upper pivot, I prefer to provide roller bearings at its lower end so that the strains may be more evenly distributed and j excess weight taken from the upper pivot,

and to that end, I have mounted flanged wheels 2'l on the lower end ofsaid trus's.

These wheels ride along segmental tiacks 22,' as will be seen by referring to Figs. l, 6-and 7 Such tracks may be mounted in any de sired manner upon the boat, and they may be posi ioned by means of the shown braces 23 or otherwise as may prove to be most ex- 60 pedient in practice. The segmental tracks are curved to correspond with the upper.v hinge of the. swinging truss as a center, and

accordingly the lower end ofsaid truss-will be always supported howeve'r it be swung aboutv such center.

depending truss of the ex-.

The depending truss 24 may be hinged to the swinging truss 18 by means of pillow blocks in the same way that the swinging truss is pivoted atits apex to thestationary frame, or I may mount a transverse shaft 25 with its ends journaled to the swinging truss as shown by Figs. 6 and 7. The depending truss 24- may be arranged to swing about shaft 25 as a pivot, and may be.pro-

vided at its hinged end with a suitable bearing 26 which fits about said shaft.

The construction of the lower end of said depending truss and the manner of connecting it to its companion to form a movable toe, may be best understood by referring to Figs. 8 and 14, from which it will be seen that truss 24L is'also provided with a bearingpiece or pillow block 27 which, like the pillow block at the apex, is apertured and is provided with an inner extension 28 adapted to'serve as a pivot for the pillow block 29 ferent positions, which will be determinable by the location of the rear intermediate, hinge of the structure. This moving may be done through any suitable instrulnentality,

as for example. a worm gearing may, be driven by the engine 3 whenever desired, so as to displace they said joint into any suitable position. Or I may provide winding-drums 'which receive cables secured either to the,

movable intermediate joint or to the toe the apparatus, as may be preferred.

The excavating is preferably done by means of an endless series of buckets or scoops 33 which are connected together at intervals and carried byan. endless beltor chain, as shown more clearly by Figs. 1,v 9

and '12. When such endless belt is'eaused I to travel around the supporting framework,

the buckets 'will "in 'rotation be brou-ght. against the silt or other materialwhich will 11. thus be continuously remov'edlfl It will be i notedthat in the shown embodiment the' cutting edge 34 of each bucket constitutes the outermost portion of the same and that, practically sp: .ring,'it is only this portion of each bucket that comesin contact'with the material tobe excavated. One. of the important, improvements contemplated by this invention reside-sin making the cutting edges. of the buckets of great strength and "olimaterial which is hard and durable. To that end, the cutting edge forms the extreme portionofa'strap 35 which is substantially of a'U-shapfed contour andfis'preferably so ceeding companion buc oi.

45 wall of the overlying bucket rt.

outermost cutting edge, which is sharpened or otherwise brought into a shape adapted.

to cut into the material to be excavated. This strap will preferably be reinforced by 5 means of side platcsBG, which may also constitute the sides of the bucket. Ordinarily these plates will be of less Tllll'ih'llGSS than the cutting portion, and such plates may eitlieibe integral with the cutting or body portion or they may be separate therefron'i and riveted or otherwise securely allixed thereto. lnasnumh as the cutting portion is in usage subected to much abrasion, and will in some cases become soon Worn away,

1 5 this portion may be so arranged as to permit of being convel'iicntly' replaced from time to time. 'lhe outer wall or body portion 37 of' the bucket may ordinarily be formed of a cheaper grade of material than 0 the wearing parts, and to that end may\be of sheetiron or other suitableinexpensive material. This portion of the bucket may be dished in, the manner Si'l0\Vl1,'tO form a Hat outer curved surface with transverse in- 5 tcgral sides, which will extend so as to be overlapped by both the cutting lip and the reinforcing side wall. This dished piece may then be riveted or otl'ierwise secured to thelip and to the reinforcing side wall as will be readily understood.

This invention also proposes to so fashion and arrange the buckets that each will constitute a unit of an. endless excavating chain, and to that end, and inasmuch as it IS the 5 enable to dispense with all unnecessary versely through a ined apertures in' the cutting hp, the underlying reinforcing n the side }I)QCt'lVQl 'y'. The construction of each si wall of the bucket is in this respect 'lentical. Although the buckets are by this arrangmnen-t side "all and the eicti'uieion fr {for the substitution 01f fresh buckets, itis ll inforcing and driving this endless system.

i To this end this invention proposes to 8X- flltend. the transverse shafts 39 so" that will protru de jslightly beyond .the sides of they the buckets. These shafts are secured to hand joined-together by means of a chain,

which preferably is builtup ofan alternat ing series oi overlapping'single and duplex i .llnks. ll); that is to say,-e.inbracn1g two of parallel links whose ends, overlap singlelinks which extend wand the on to the adjacent shafts,

tion being adapted to all firmly secured together, and are at the.

v I .to facilitate the turnil'ig l o I same tune capable of being readily replaced.

l advisable to provide means for further rea r syst an); may, be built up ,in

this Way. Bearing blocks 41 are interposed between each link and its associated shaft.

A feature of practical advantage may'here be noted, by referring to Fig. 10 from which it will be seen that the links 40 of the chain are spread intermediate their ends so as to permit the bearing blocks 41 to be removed 7 when worn by merely moving them toward such spread portion which is su'liiciently Wide to enable such bearing blocks to be removed. Howbeit, this feature is subject to modification within the scope of this invention, and various arrangements of driving means may be resorted to, although the herein shown form possesses many characteristic advantages. An excavating linkage constructed in this way is Well adapted for being driven, and carried by a cog wheel. Such wheel 42 may be formed in accordance with Figs. lO-and l1, and comprises a pcriphery 43 of polygonal contour, each facet of which is provided with a suitable pro eclion and seat for the corresponding links of the chain. Thus the one facet-4 L will have a middle projection 45 with recessed seats at on each side thereof, the middle projecprotrude through the space between the two ends links of the chain and engage the hinge thereof, and the e1de recesses being adapted to seat such links. The adjacent, facet 47 will on the contrary comprise a central recess 48 for the single link of the corresponding portion oi the chain, and ,two side projections 49' WZlll'bQ provided for positioning the llllk authengaging the hinge at each end of the link. In order that such wheel-may not be unduly clogged by any dirt or other foreign mat: terwhich. may be carried by the chain, i

prefer to depress the projections betwe'thr the ends in the manner shownl so as to allolw a considerable space betwe lu the links the underlyingperiphery cf the wheel. it will' of course be understood that in the shown any even number of facets may be employed to forth the periphery of the wheel, and the latter may of any and iiroportions desirable. The e wheels 44, l the buckets are, of ctmsiderablo diameter, and are disposed in pairs at each hil'ige of the colla'psible framework, being spaced apart and mounted. upon shafts 20, as, 31 and 50, as shown by Figs. 6, '2', l3 and lt. The linka 'e of the endless train of buckets rides over tie exposed peripheries ofthesewheels, and the length of the train will not undergo variation when the) collapsible runway expands or contracts.

One very important feature .ot my inn proyedfsystem resides in the facility withwhich the discharging operation inay take place, and which to a large extent ISWlWB to the peculiar constructicnand arrangement of the bottoms or inner walls of the buckets.

- sultable point. Such joints This inner wall 51 is not fixed and integral with the body of the bucket, but on the conthe inner bottom edge of the same. I A simple construction of this hinge consists in turning the material of the outer wall along .which this shaft passes,

its edge so as to form a cylinder 52, within which is a suitable shaft 53. Two of more strips 54., of suitable material are provided in their ends with apertures through thus constituting a hinge. These strips are preferably secured to the plate 51 which constitutes the inner wall of the bucket, and such strips preferably are also arrangedto carry rollers 56 which by running along a suitable-track will normally keep the Inner Walls of the buckets in a closed position.

To readily accommodate these rollers, the strips are provided with upturned bearing blocks 57 through which a shaft 58 passes, and at each end "of v this shaft is, mounted a roller as aforesaid, which will preferably be provided with a bearing periphery and a flange adapted to maintain it upon the track.

The means whereby the hinged doors are maintained closed during the major portion of the travel of the bucket to retain the contents, and whereby s'uch doors are allowed to open at a predetermined station to discharge the contents, will be better understood by referring-to Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8 and 12. Each of the trusses carries a section of the auxiliary track 59, which ispositioned quite closely to.

the body of thebucket and'serves as a runway for the rollers 56 of the door so that the latter willbe held closed, besides afiording an auxiliary support for guiding-and steadying the endless; train of buckets. Each joint of the collapsible framework is provided with arc-shaped supports 60 whlch are preferably loosely mounted on the joint shafts-20, 2.5, 31 and 50 and maintained against rotation therewith by any desired means, such as an attachment to one of the track ends The track 59 rounds over these supports and, toprovide for the pivoting of the trusses, is provided with a expansion joint 61 at each turning 7 may be had by dividing the track so as toform mortised overlapping ends, as will be understood. Or the modification shown by" Fig. 16 may be resorted to,

' in which 62 represents a wheel loosely carried by the .joint shaft and 63 the track ends, which are'arranged flush 'and tan enwith such wheel so that the doorro lers mayi-readilv ridesover the wheel.-

tachment with s1 At the apex of the framework the railwayffor the rollers of the hinged sides of the buckets is curved, and follows a path sufliciently below the upper periphery of the turning wheel "to permit the lips of the buckets to open Fig. 12. When, therefore,,the. bucket ap-. proaches the apex of the frame the rollers of the flap travel along their track, which begins to diverge away from the toothed linkage, and as will be readily understood the flap then begins to open, and finally assumes a substantially vertical position so as to discharge all the material in the bucket. As the bucket then progressively continues its travel the flap will begin to close and will finally be brought into a closed state.

properly collected this invention proposes a funnel-shaped hopper 64 having discharge outlets 65. The outlets extend to-either side of the framework, and as will be under-' stood may be used simultanedusl'y to'spread it is being cut, or but one of these'outlets may be used at a time and the debris may be spread along one of the banks, according to the preference of the operator.

this invention which is provided with a series of collars 67 spaced apart at suitable intervals, and to these collars are secured a number of is preferably a small 5 of suspension 69-, which travel along a horiearriage 70 arranged to zontal track 71 provided I verse crane 72. This crane preferably expivoted cap 74 from which radiate a number of tension 'cables75 extending into atritable portions of the horizpntal part of the crane. The weight of the 'conveyer tube n be equalized by meanspji a'stay. 76 fixedt 'hontal crane and traveler 77 guided as will be readily and I5.

extending to .a melee understood f om Figs. 2

invention provides the progressively remove arc-shaped portions of the bank.

that the boat carriesftwo jsmgill derricks 79 and 80. These derricks" are preferably and discharge the debris, as illustrated in In order that the falling debris may be To enable-the debris to be discharged at a distance from the sides of the framework proposes a conveyer pipe 66 cables 68 which converge toward the point the outer endfof the host by a segmen a1 track -78;

For the purpose of' positioning and steadying the boatd'uring the dredging, this boat with means for i-nsertin and removing one or more pilespr like anc ori'ng meansabout which the boat" maybe oscillated so as to cause the excavat 'ing chain to swing back and forth and to I Turning tolF-ig sitfand'hit be'seen" the debris along each bank of the canal as bya suitable transbe 2 either side of the vertical support,

voted at its middle to a standard 73 rises from the top of the vertical frame, and such standard at its'top has a each derrick is a tubular well 82 through which the associated pile 83 may have vertical movement, and preferably each well. is of a suiiicient length to prevent an oscillation in a vertical plane of the contained pile. A rope 84; will pass from the upper end of the pile over the sheave and thence to anysuita-ble hoisting mechanism. In lieu of these derricks any other suitable means for. raising or lowering the piles may be resorted'to within the scope of this invention. It will now be understood that the boat may be oscillated about either one of these-piles, thereby causing the prow or cutting portion thereof to describe an arc and remove a corresponding layer of the embankment in advance of the boat. .As soon as the boat has described an arc of the desired len th and reached the. turning point, which wi lbe on that side containmg the embedded pile which acts as apivot, the more distant pile may be embedded and the first mentioned pile then withdrawn. Upon returnlng the boat about the newly embedded pile, it will be seen that another arc-shaped layer will be removed from the embankment in 'ad- 'vance of theboat, and the latter will at the same time progress slightly, depending upon the distance between the two piles. Thus through the alternative employment of each of these piles, the boat will. be caused to progressively advance step by step and at the same time remove anydesired width of the embankment ahead of the boat. The advance of the excavator may also be brought about by hawsers atlixed to the banks, and other means for the same purposeaaiay be resorted to if desired.

nus/n1 thus be seen, without further elaboration, that-the disclosed invention is one well ada ted to attain the ends and objects hereinbetore pointed out. An excavator made in accordance with this invention will be found to be durable and efi'icient, and capable of being constructed at a cost which,

"considering the nature of the work it will perform, willbe relatively'small. In carry ing out this invention some parts mightbe employed without others and the new fea tures thereof may be combined with elements old in the art, although the herein described type is' regarded as the preferred one, and as being substantial improvement over many of such obvious or implied vvariations or arrangements.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that claim as new and desire to combination a plurality oftrusses ecu-1'22 leaving claims is intended to cover all of the genome and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there,

between.

Having-described my invention, what I Patent is: v

1. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of trusses hinged to gether to form a collapsible polygonal framework, one oi" said trusses being stationary, and an endless train of excavating buckets mounted to travel around said framework.

2. Anexcavating apparatus comprising in.

combination a collapsible framework coniprising a plurality of hinged trusses, one of said trusses being immovable and providing at each end a fixed pivot about which another of said trusses may swing, and an endless train of excavating buckets mounted to travel around said framework.

3. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a stationary derrick, a pair of depending trusses pivoted at the upper and lower ends of said derrick respectively, an inextensible link hinged to and connecting the free ends of said trusses, and an endless excavating chain mounted to travel around the periphery of the aforesaid parts. 4; An excavating apparatus comprising in combmahon .a plurality of trusses hinged 'at adjacent ends to form a collapsible polygonal fI'il-HTBY'Ul'li', one of said-trusses beiu immovable and forming a stationary derric t and extending upwardly, and an endless excavating chain mounted to. travel around said framework and discharge debris near the summit thereof.

An excavating apparatus comprisingin hinged at adjacent ends to form acollapsible polygonal framework, one of said trusses being stationary and slanting upwardly and terminating to form a fixed apex about which a companion truss may swing, and an excavating chain mounted to travel around said framework.

6. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of trusses hinged together at their adjacent ends to form a collapsiblepolygonal framework, the apex and foot ofone of said trusses being fixed 1n position'and adapted to serve as plvots about which companion trusses may swing "to raise or lower the toe of said framework,

and an endless train ofexcavating buckets mounted to travel around sald framework.

secure by Letters endless chain ofbuckets mounted to travelaround the aforesaid framework, whereby u on swinging said swinging truss the toe 0 said framework may be raised or lowered to excavate at different depths.

I 8. A collapsible polygonal framework comprising two upper trusses converging toward a fixed apex, one of said trusses be-' ingimmovable and the other being adapted to swing about said apex, a segmental track supporting the lower end of said sw nging.

truss, and a pair of depending trusses converging toward a hinged toe, the one being hinged and depending from said swinging truss and the other from immovableu'pper truss. v

9. .A collapsible polygonal framework comprising a pair of upper trusses converging toward a fixed apex, and a pair of lower depending trusses convergingtoward a mov+ able toe, one of said upper trusses being hinged to swing about said apex and the other being immovable, a segmental track arranged to carry. the lower end of said swinging truss, and a train of excavating buckets mounted to travel around said framework to gather material at the bottom thereof and discharge the same at the fixed apex.

onal framework mounted on said "float at one end thereof and with the lower portion of said'framework submerged, means for expanding orcollapsing said frameworkto raise or lower the toe thereof, and an excavatingmeans arranged to remove debris from point adjacent said toeand discharge the same at a point overlying said float.

11. An excavating apparatus'comprising --incombination a vehicle,;a collapsible poly onal framework carried b'y said vehicle on the'bo-w thereof, said framework providing a fixed point of discharge, and an endless excavating belt mounted to travel around said framework and discharge debris. at said point.

12. A11 excavatingapparatus comprising in combination a boat, a collapsible-polygonal framework carried by said boat on the bow thereof and composed .of aplurality of. inextensible hinged links or trusses form.- ing the sides of the polygonal, framework, one of said trusses rising from the beak. of saidboat, whereby said framework maybe collapsed or expanded without varying the length of its periphery, and an endless exvat-in supporting the lower ends of said-swinging 10. Anexcavating apparatus comprising in combination a float, a collapsible polyg i.

end of said sWingi-ng'truss is supported, a

said constantperiphery. i, 13. An excavating apparatus ,conrprising\ in combination a vehicle, a plurality \ofv trusses supportedby said vehicle andplco verging upwardly to form an'apex, o e f. said trusses being adapted to swing about said apex as a center and another beingllim movable and rising from the extreme X n of said vehicle, and an endless excavat'pg\ belt mountedto travel along said trusses, "v3 .14. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle, a plurality of trusses carried thereby,'one of said trusses rising from the extreme end of sai vehicle and converging upwardly with another toward an apex, said apex being fixed in position relatively to said'vehicle and one of said trusses being adapted to swing about said'a ex as. a center, and an endless exca- .belt guided in its travel by cavating' chain mountedto travel\ around 65 trusses. p

15. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle, a plurality of trusses carried thereby, one of said trusses rising from the extreme end of said vehicle and converging upwardly with another to form an apex, one of said trusses being arranged i toswing about said apex as a center, a segmental track carried by said. vehicle and truss, and an endless excavating chain mountedto travel around the periphery of said trusses.

'16. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle provided with a well coinciding with the longitudinal center and located in the forward end of said vehicle, a collapsible polygonal framework arranged partly in said well and having portions extending above and below said well, said framework comprising two links hinged together, said hinge being adapted to be dis placed into different positions relativeto said vehicle, whereby the collectingportions of an excavating means may be raised or lowered, and an endless excavating means mounted to travel around the periphery of said framework. 17. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle,'a pair of trusses converging upwardly to form an apex, oneof said trusses being hinged at said apexand adapted to swing thereabout, a track carried by said vehicle upon which thelower. 20 pair of depending converging trusses, the one being hinged to the lower endof'saidswinging truss and the other to said vehicle, and an excavating means adaptedv to be guided in its/travel by said trusses and ar-- 125 ranged to discharge materialjnproximity with the apex.

f 18. nil-excavating comprising in combination a vehicle, a pair of trusses carried thereby andconverglng to form an upper hinged Joint about whlch one of said trusses may swin a segmental track arstationary framework,

periphery of said f ranged to support the lower end, of said swinging truss, sald track having a curveture ,inscribedby the bertri'ii r end of the swinging truss, a pair-bf swinging trusses hinged together at their lower ends to form a toe, the one truss" being hinged to the forward end of said vehicle and the other to the free end of said swinging truss, and an excayating means mounted to travel around said trusses and discharge material adjacent the upper hinged joint thereof.

19. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle, a stationary frame- ,work carried thereby and rising from the extreme end thereof, a collapsible framework comprising a truss. pivotally swung from an upper fixed pivot provided by said and an endless exchain mounted to travel around the amewo-rk and discharge material adjacent said upper pivot.

20. in excavating apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle, a stationary frame work rising "from the extreme end thereof, a swinging truss converging toward the summit oi said stationary :t'ramework "and pivoted thereto, the lower ends of said on vating swinging truss and said stati('n1ary frame- WOl'i being connected by a plurality of hinged trusses arranged to provide a lower toe, whereby upon swinging the lower end ofsaid swinging truss said toe may be raised, and a train of excavating buckets mounted. to travel around said framework.

.ll. An evcavating apparatus comprising in cmnbination elongated well in its forward end, a segmental track rising at each side of said Well, the radii of said trapks centering at a point overlying said well and to the rear of the extreme end of said vehicle, aswinging truss having a lower end arranged to travel upon each track, a truss hinged to and depending from the lower end of said upper trusses, a companion truss hinged to the end of said vehicle, said depending trusses col'ivergin g to form. a hinged too which may be raised by moving the lower end of said swinging truss, and an endless train of excavating buckets mounted to travel around a vehicle provided with an may be moved v cavating chain mounted to travel around the periphery of said framework.

An excavating apparatus con'iprising in combination a vehicle, a plurality of trusses hinged to form a collapsible dia mond-shaped framework, a curvilinear track carried by said vehicle and arranged to sup port .one of the intermediate hinges of said collapsible fial'neworlr, the other being affixed to the extreme end of said vehicle, d hereby the former may lie-retreated to raise its toe, and an endless excavating chain mounted to travel around said framework.

24. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle, a plurality of trusses hinged at meeting ends to, form a diamond-shaped collapsible framework, a segmental track whose center ofcurvature is the apex oi. said framework, the rearward iutermediatejoint of the latter being arranged to travel along said track to raise or lower. the toe of said framework, the forward lIltGILllGCllfltdjOlIlt being aiiixed to said vehicle, and a trainof excavating buckets mounted to travel a'roundthe periphery of said frameworr.

25. An emanating apparatus comprising in combination a boat, a collapsil'ile polygonal framework arranged to coincide with -the longitudinal and carried by the bow of said boat, the upper end of said framework being fixed and serving as a pivot about which one of of said framework may be swung, the other depending member constituting a stationary framew0rk carried by said vehicle and serv ing as a support for said nppcrpivot, said stationary framework of said boat. v

26. In excavating apparatus, in combination, an excavating bucket comprising a body portion having a wall provided with a cutting edge, and a swinging discharge door hinged to said body portion and located .opposite said wall, a runway causing said bucket to travel. in a predetermined path, and an auxiliary runway for holding said door closed during the major portion of the travel of said bucket and permitting said door to open at a predetermined statiou.

2?. An excavating apparatus comprising, in combination, a frame work, and endless excavator mounted to travel around said frame work, said excavator comprising a series of buclte one of the Walls of each of said buckets "sing provided with an extension whereby said bucket is piv0tally connected to the succeeding bucket.

28. An. excavating apparatus comprising, in combination, p less excavator mounted to travel around said frame work, said excavator comprising a the depending members rising from the beak 'asa'nva way for holding said door closed during the major portion of the travel of said bucket and permitting said doo r'to open at a vpredetermined station. 7

30. An excavating apparatus comprising a in combination a collapsible framework com- ,in'combination a collapsible framework, a

prised of a plurality of trusses, one of said hinges consistin of an apertured block aifixed to one of said trusses and providing a bearing as a pivot for the companion tru$, and a shaft revolubly mounted within the aperture of said block.

31. An excavating apparatus comprising chain adapted to travel around said framework, a bucket by said chain, the side 0t saidbucket adjacent said chain being provided with a hinged door adapted to be opened to discharge the contents of,

said "bucket, and a runway maintaining closed said door while said bucket is con veying material to the point.

82. An excavating apparatus comp incombination a collapsible polygonal homework, a chain adapted to travel around said, framework, buckets carried by said chain and radiating from said. framework, and a hinged door on th side of each bucket adjacent said chain, whereby the contents of said bucket may be discharged at a predetermined statio r 33. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a vehicle, a collapsible p0lygonal framework having at each joint thereof a turning wheel, an endless chain mounted to travel around said wheels, one of said wheelsbeing adapted to drive said chain, excavating buckets carried thereby, and means for discharging the contents of each bucket at a point fixed'relatively to said vehicle, a chute for receiving and conrey.-.

ing the contents of said buckets, and an overlying crane for carrying said chain, whereby it maybe freely moved into diverse positions to deliver said contents at any prede termined point.

34. An excavating apparatus comprising in combination a jointed runway, turning wheels at each joint thereof, an endless series of connected excavating buckets, an endless chain also attached to said connected buckets and carried by said wheels, and means for driving said chain to propel said connected buckets. 4

35. An excavating apparatus comprising,

incombination, a traveling chain, certain of the links of said chain be' spread intermediate their ends, abearing lock seated in the crotch formed by the ends of each of said links and adaptedto be disengaged by moving it toward the spread portion of said i link, and an excavating bucket secured to each block. I

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS F. LQNN YQ Witnesses:

ARTHUR G. Panvm, H. M. Santana, 

